Open

Use the Open dialog box to browse to and open a file. Some Microsoft Office programs assign a different name to the Open dialog box to clarify the purpose of the dialog box. For example, in Microsoft Office OneNote, the Open dialog box is called Open Notebook.

• Access
• Excel
• OneNote
• Outlook
• PowerPoint
• Project
• Publisher
• SharePoint Designer
• Visio
• Word

Access

The following are the elements that are contained in the Open dialog box.

• Look in     In the list, click a location where the file that you want to open is stored. Use the Look in list to move up one or more levels in the folder structure.
• Previous folder     As you move through the folder structure in the Files list, this button enables you to go back to the previous folder that you viewed.
• Up one level     Click this button to look in the folder that is up one level in the current folder structure.
• Delete     Click this button to delete the selected file or folder.
• Create new folder     Click this button to create a new folder within the current folder.
• Views     Click the arrow next to this button to display file and folder view options.
• Files     This list displays the folders and files contained in the folder that is displayed in the Look in list.
• File name     Type or select the name of the file that you are opening.
• Files of type     In the list, click the name of the file format of the file that you want to open. Most Microsoft Office programs can open files of more than one format, so you may need to specify the format of the file that you want.
• My Places     Click a shortcut on the My Places bar to go to the location represented by the shortcut.

 Note   Your My Places bar might be different from what is shown because you can add, remove, or rearrange the shortcuts. For more information, see Organize quick file access by using the My Places bar.

 My Places bar. The My Documents shortcut is selected.

• Tools     Click Tools to display a list of tasks that you can perform.
• Open     Click Open to open the selected file. Many Microsoft Office programs add options for opening files to the Open button. An arrow next to Open indicates that a list of options is available. Click the arrow to display the options. Different Microsoft Office programs have different options.
• Open     To open the file with full read-write access, click Open.
• Open Read-Only     To open the file in a mode that prevents you from making changes to the file, click Open Read-Only.
• Open Exclusive     To open a database and prevent others from using the database while you have it open, click Open Exclusive.
• Open Exclusive Read-Only     To open a database both while preventing others from opening it and preventing you from making changes, click Open Exclusive Read-Only.
• Cancel     To go back to the program without opening a file, click Cancel.

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Excel

The following are the elements that are contained in the Open dialog box.

• Look in     In the list, click a location where the file that you want to open is stored. Use the Look in list to move up one or more levels in the folder structure.
• Previous folder     As you move through the folder structure in the Files list, this button enables you to go back to the previous folder that you viewed.
• Up one level     Click this button to look in the folder that is up one level in the current folder structure.
• Delete     Click this button to delete the selected file or folder.
• Create new folder     Click this button to create a new folder within the current folder.
• Views     Click the arrow next to this button to display file and folder view options.
• Files     This list displays the folders and files contained in the folder that is displayed in the Look in list.
• File name     Type or select the name of the file that you are opening.
• Files of type     In the list, click the name of the file format of the file that you want to open. Most Microsoft Office programs can open files of more than one format, so you may need to specify the format of the file that you want.
• My Places     Click a shortcut on the My Places bar to go to the location represented by the shortcut.

 Note   Your My Places bar might be different from what is shown because you can add, remove, or rearrange the shortcuts. For more information, see Organize quick file access by using the My Places bar.

 My Places bar. The My Documents shortcut is selected.

• Tools     Click Tools to display a list of tasks that you can perform.
• Open     Click Open to open the selected file. Many Microsoft Office programs add options for opening files to the Open button. An arrow next to Open indicates that a list of options is available. Click the arrow to display the options. Different Microsoft Office programs have different options.
• Open     To open the file with full read-write access, click Open.
• Open Read-Only     To open the file in a mode that prevents you from making changes to the file, click Open Read-Only.
• Open as Copy     To create a copy of the file as you open it, click Open as Copy. Changes you make to the file are made to the copy and not to the original.
• Open in Browser     To display the file in your Web browser, click Open in Browser.
• Open and Repair     If a file has been damaged and you cannot open it by normal means, click Open and Repair to open the damaged file.
• Cancel     To go back to the program without opening a file, click Cancel.

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OneNote

OneNote has two versions of the Open dialog box:

• File Open     You can use this dialog box to open OneNote Sections.
• Open Notebook     You can use this dialog box to open OneNote Notebooks.

File Open     The following are the elements that are contained in the File Open dialog box.

• Look in     In the list, click a location where the file that you want to open is stored. Use the Look in list to move up one or more levels in the folder structure.
• Previous folder     As you move through the folder structure in the Files list, this button enables you to go back to the previous folder that you viewed.
• Up one level     Click this button to look in the folder that is up one level in the current folder structure.
• Delete     Click this button to delete the selected file or folder.
• Create new folder     Click this button to create a new folder within the current folder.
• Views     Click the arrow next to this button to display file and folder view options.
• Files     This list displays the folders and files contained in the folder that is displayed in the Look in list.
• File name     Type or select the name of the file that you are opening.
• Files of type     In the list, click the name of the file format of the file that you want to open. Most Microsoft Office programs can open files of more than one format, so you may need to specify the format of the file that you want.
• My Places     Click a shortcut on the My Places bar to go to the location represented by the shortcut.

 Note   Your My Places bar might be different from what is shown because you can add, remove, or rearrange the shortcuts. For more information, see Organize quick file access by using the My Places bar.

 My Places bar. The My Documents shortcut is selected.

• Tools     Click Tools to display a list of tasks that you can perform.
• Open     Click Open to open the selected file. Many Microsoft Office programs add options for opening files to the Open button. An arrow next to Open indicates that a list of options is available. Click the arrow to display the options. Different Microsoft Office programs have different options.
• Open     To open the file with full read-write access, click Open.
• Open Read-Only     To open the file in a mode that prevents you from making changes to the file, click Open Read-Only.
• Cancel     To go back to the program without opening a file, click Cancel.

Open Notebook     The following are the elements that are contained in the Open Notebook dialog box.

• Look in     In the list, click a location where the file that you want to open is stored. Use the Look in list to move up one or more levels in the folder structure.
• Previous folder     As you move through the folder structure in the Files list, this button enables you to go back to the previous folder that you viewed.
• Up one level     Click this button to look in the folder that is up one level in the current folder structure.
• Delete     Click this button to delete the selected file or folder.
• Create new folder     Click this button to create a new folder within the current folder.
• Views     Click the arrow next to this button to display file and folder view options.
• Files     This list displays the folders and files contained in the folder that is displayed in the Look in list.
• File name     Type or select the name of the file that you are opening.
• Files of type     In the list, click the name of the file format of the file that you want to open. Most Microsoft Office programs can open files of more than one format, so you may need to specify the format of the file that you want.
• My Places     Click a shortcut on the My Places bar to go to the location represented by the shortcut.

 Note   Your My Places bar might be different from what is shown because you can add, remove, or rearrange the shortcuts. For more information, see Organize quick file access by using the My Places bar.

 My Places bar. The My Documents shortcut is selected.

• Tools     Click Tools to display a list of tasks that you can perform.
• Open     Click Open to open the selected file.
• Cancel     To go back to the program without opening a file, click Cancel.

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Outlook

Outlook has two versions of the Open dialog box:

• Open Calendar     You can use this dialog box to open a calendar in the legacy (.vCal) format or in the new Internet Calendar (.iCal) format.
• Open Outlook Data File     You can use this dialog box to open a Personal Folder file (.PST).

Open Calendar     The following are the elements that are contained in the Open Calendar dialog box.

• Look in     In the list, click a location where the file that you want to open is stored. Use the Look in list to move up one or more levels in the folder structure.
• Previous folder     As you move through the folder structure in the Files list, this button enables you to go back to the previous folder that you viewed.
• Up one level     Click this button to look in the folder that is up one level in the current folder structure.
• Delete     Click this button to delete the selected file or folder.
• Create new folder     Click this button to create a new folder within the current folder.
• Views     Click the arrow next to this button to display file and folder view options.
• Files     This list displays the folders and files contained in the folder that is displayed in the Look in list.
• File name     Type or select the name of the file that you are opening.
• Files of type     In the list, click the name of the file format of the file that you want to open. Most Microsoft Office programs can open files of more than one format, so you may need to specify the format of the file that you want.
• My Places     Click a shortcut on the My Places bar to go to the location represented by the shortcut.

 Note   Your My Places bar might be different from what is shown because you can add, remove, or rearrange the shortcuts. For more information, see Organize quick file access by using the My Places bar.

 My Places bar. The My Documents shortcut is selected.

• Tools     Click Tools to display a list of tasks that you can perform.
• OK     Click OK to open the selected file.
• Cancel     To go back to the program without opening a file, click Cancel.

Open Outlook Data File     The following are the elements that are contained in the Open Outlook Data File dialog box.

• Look in     In the list, click a location where the file that you want to open is stored. Use the Look in list to move up one or more levels in the folder structure.
• Previous folder     As you move through the folder structure in the Files list, this button enables you to go back to the previous folder that you viewed.
• Up one level     Click this button to look in the folder that is up one level in the current folder structure.
• Delete     Click this button to delete the selected file or folder.
• Create new folder     Click this button to create a new folder within the current folder.
• Views     Click the arrow next to this button to display file and folder view options.
• Files     This list displays the folders and files contained in the folder that is displayed in the Look in list.
• File name     Type or select the name of the file that you are opening.
• Files of type     In the list, click the name of the file format of the file that you want to open. Most Microsoft Office programs can open files of more than one format, so you may need to specify the format of the file that you want.
• My Places     Click a shortcut on the My Places bar to go to the location represented by the shortcut.

 Note   Your My Places bar might be different from what is shown because you can add, remove, or rearrange the shortcuts. For more information, see Organize quick file access by using the My Places bar.

 My Places bar. The My Documents shortcut is selected.

• Tools     Click Tools to display a list of tasks that you can perform.
• OK     Click OK to open the selected file.
• Cancel     To go back to the program without opening a file, click Cancel.

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PowerPoint

The following are the elements that are contained in the Open dialog box.

• Look in     In the list, click a location where the file that you want to open is stored. Use the Look in list to move up one or more levels in the folder structure.
• Previous folder     As you move through the folder structure in the Files list, this button enables you to go back to the previous folder that you viewed.
• Up one level     Click this button to look in the folder that is up one level in the current folder structure.
• Delete     Click this button to delete the selected file or folder.
• Create new folder     Click this button to create a new folder within the current folder.
• Views     Click the arrow next to this button to display file and folder view options.
• Files     This list displays the folders and files contained in the folder that is displayed in the Look in list.
• File name     Type or select the name of the file that you are opening.
• Files of type     In the list, click the name of the file format of the file that you want to open. Most Microsoft Office programs can open files of more than one format, so you may need to specify the format of the file that you want.
• My Places     Click a shortcut on the My Places bar to go to the location represented by the shortcut.

 Note   Your My Places bar might be different from what is shown because you can add, remove, or rearrange the shortcuts. For more information, see Organize quick file access by using the My Places bar.

 My Places bar. The My Documents shortcut is selected.

• Tools     Click Tools to display a list of tasks that you can perform.
• Open     Click Open to open the selected file. Many Microsoft Office programs add options for opening files to the Open button. An arrow next to Open indicates that a list of options is available. Click the arrow to display the options. Different Microsoft Office programs have different options.
• Open     To open the file with full read-write access, click Open.
• Open Read-Only     To open the file in a mode that prevents you from making changes to the file, click Open Read-Only.
• Open as Copy     To create a copy of the file as you open it, click Open as Copy. Changes you make to the file are made to the copy and not to the original.
• Open in Browser     To display the file in your Web browser, click Open in Browser.
• Open and Repair     If a file has been damaged and you cannot open it by normal means, click Open and Repair to open the damaged file.
• Cancel     To go back to the program without opening a file, click Cancel.

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Project

The following are the elements that are contained in the Open dialog box.

• Look in     In the list, click a location where the file that you want to open is stored. Use the Look in list to move up one or more levels in the folder structure.
• Previous folder     As you move through the folder structure in the Files list, this button enables you to go back to the previous folder that you viewed.
• Up one level     Click this button to look in the folder that is up one level in the current folder structure.
• Delete     Click this button to delete the selected file or folder.
• Create new folder     Click this button to create a new folder within the current folder.
• Views     Click the arrow next to this button to display file and folder view options.
• Files     This list displays the folders and files contained in the folder that is displayed in the Look in list.
• File name     Type or select the name of the file that you are opening.
• Files of type     In the list, click the name of the file format of the file that you want to open. Most Microsoft Office programs can open files of more than one format, so you may need to specify the format of the file that you want.
• My Places     Click a shortcut on the My Places bar to go to the location represented by the shortcut.

 Note   Your My Places bar might be different from what is shown because you can add, remove, or rearrange the shortcuts. For more information, see Organize quick file access by using the My Places bar.

 My Places bar. The My Documents shortcut is selected.

• Tools     Click Tools to display a list of tasks that you can perform.
• Open     Click Open to open the selected file. Many Microsoft Office programs add options for opening files to the Open button. An arrow next to Open indicates that a list of options is available. Click the arrow to display the options. Different Microsoft Office programs have different options.
• Open     To open the file with full read-write access, click Open.
• Open Read-Only     To open the file in a mode that prevents you from making changes to the file, click Open Read-Only.
• Open as Copy     To create a copy of the file as you open it, click Open as Copy. Changes you make to the file are made to the copy and not to the original.
• Cancel     To go back to the program without opening a file, click Cancel.

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Publisher

The following are the elements that are contained in the Open dialog box.

• Look in     In the list, click a location where the file that you want to open is stored. Use the Look in list to move up one or more levels in the folder structure.
• Previous folder     As you move through the folder structure in the Files list, this button enables you to go back to the previous folder that you viewed.
• Up one level     Click this button to look in the folder that is up one level in the current folder structure.
• Delete     Click this button to delete the selected file or folder.
• Create new folder     Click this button to create a new folder within the current folder.
• Views     Click the arrow next to this button to display file and folder view options.
• Files     This list displays the folders and files contained in the folder that is displayed in the Look in list.
• File name     Type or select the name of the file that you are opening.
• Files of type     In the list, click the name of the file format of the file that you want to open. Most Microsoft Office programs can open files of more than one format, so you may need to specify the format of the file that you want.
• My Places     Click a shortcut on the My Places bar to go to the location represented by the shortcut.

 Note   Your My Places bar might be different from what is shown because you can add, remove, or rearrange the shortcuts. For more information, see Organize quick file access by using the My Places bar.

 My Places bar. The My Documents shortcut is selected.

• Tools     Click Tools to display a list of tasks that you can perform.
• Open     Click Open to open the selected file. Many Microsoft Office programs add options for opening files to the Open button. An arrow next to Open indicates that a list of options is available. Click the arrow to display the options. Different Microsoft Office programs have different options.
• Open     To open the file with full read-write access, click Open.
• Open Read-Only     To open the file in a mode that prevents you from making changes to the file, click Open Read-Only.
• Open in Browser     To display the file in your Web browser, click Open in Browser.
• Cancel     To go back to the program without opening a file, click Cancel.

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SharePoint Designer

The following are the elements that are contained in the Open dialog box.

• Look in     In the list, click a location where the file that you want to open is stored. Use the Look in list to move up one or more levels in the folder structure.
• Previous folder     As you move through the folder structure in the Files list, this button enables you to go back to the previous folder that you viewed.
• Up one level     Click this button to look in the folder that is up one level in the current folder structure.
• Delete     Click this button to delete the selected file or folder.
• Create new folder     Click this button to create a new folder within the current folder.
• Views     Click the arrow next to this button to display file and folder view options.
• Files     This list displays the folders and files contained in the folder that is displayed in the Look in list.
• File name     Type or select the name of the file that you are opening.
• Files of type     In the list, click the name of the file format of the file that you want to open. Most Microsoft Office programs can open files of more than one format, so you may need to specify the format of the file that you want.
• My Places     Click a shortcut on the My Places bar to go to the location represented by the shortcut.

 Note   Your My Places bar might be different from what is shown because you can add, remove, or rearrange the shortcuts. For more information, see Organize quick file access by using the My Places bar.

 My Places bar. The My Documents shortcut is selected.

• Tools     Click Tools to display a list of tasks that you can perform.
• Open     Click Open to open the selected file. Many Microsoft Office programs add options for opening files to the Open button. An arrow next to Open indicates that a list of options is available. Click the arrow to display the options. Different Microsoft Office programs have different options.
• Open     To open the file with full read-write access, click Open.
• Open In New Window     To open a Web page in a new instance of Office SharePoint Designer, click Open in New Window.
• Cancel     To go back to the program without opening a file, click Cancel.

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Visio

Following are the elements that are contained in the Open dialog box.

• Look in     In the list, click a location where the file that you want to open is stored. Use the Look in list to move up one or more levels in the folder structure.
• Previous folder     As you move through the folder structure in the Files list, this button enables you to go back to the previous folder that you viewed.
• Up one level     Click this button to look in the folder that is up one level in the current folder structure.
• Delete     Click this button to delete the selected file or folder.
• Create new folder     Click this button to create a new folder within the current folder.
• Views     Click the arrow next to this button to display file and folder view options.
• Files     This list displays the folders and files contained in the folder that is displayed in the Look in list.
• File name     Type or select the name of the file that you are opening.
• Files of type     In the list, click the name of the file format of the file that you want to open. Most Microsoft Office programs can open files of more than one format, so you may need to specify the format of the file that you want.
• My Places     Click a shortcut on the My Places bar to go to the location represented by the shortcut.

 Note   Your My Places bar might be different from what is shown because you can add, remove, or rearrange the shortcuts. For more information, see Organize quick file access by using the My Places bar.

 My Places bar. The My Documents shortcut is selected.

• Tools     Click Tools to display a list of tasks that you can perform.
• Open     Click Open to open the selected file. Many Microsoft Office programs add options for opening files to the Open button. An arrow next to Open indicates that a list of options is available. Click the arrow to display the options. Different Microsoft Office programs have different options.
• Open     To open the file with full read-write access, click Open.
• Open Original     To open a file with full read-write access, click Open Original. This option functions no differently from Open.
• Open as Copy     To create a copy of the file as you open it, click Open as Copy. Changes you make to the file are made to the copy and not to the original.
• Open Read-Only     To open the file in a mode that prevents you from making changes to the file, click Open Read-Only.
• Cancel     To go back to the program without opening a file, click Cancel.

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Word

The following are the elements that are contained in the Open dialog box.

• Look in     In the list, click a location where the file that you want to open is stored. Use the Look in list to move up one or more levels in the folder structure.
• Previous folder     As you move through the folder structure in the Files list, this button enables you to go back to the previous folder that you viewed.
• Up one level     Click this button to look in the folder that is up one level in the current folder structure.
• Delete     Click this button to delete the selected file or folder.
• Create new folder     Click this button to create a new folder within the current folder.
• Views     Click the arrow next to this button to display file and folder view options.
• Files     This list displays the folders and files contained in the folder that is displayed in the Look in list.
• File name     Type or select the name of the file that you are opening.
• Files of type     In the list, click the name of the file format of the file that you want to open. Most Microsoft Office programs can open files of more than one format, so you may need to specify the format of the file that you want.
• My Places     Click a shortcut on the My Places bar to go to the location represented by the shortcut.

 Note   Your My Places bar might be different from what is shown because you can add, remove, or rearrange the shortcuts. For more information, see Organize quick file access by using the My Places bar.

 My Places bar. The My Documents shortcut is selected.

• Tools     Click Tools to display a list of tasks that you can perform.
• Open     Click Open to open the selected file. Many Microsoft Office programs add options for opening files to the Open button. An arrow next to Open indicates that a list of options is available. Click the arrow to display the options. Different Microsoft Office programs have different options.
• Open     To open the file with full read-write access, click Open.
• Open Read-Only     To open the file in a mode that prevents you from making changes to the file, click Open Read-Only.
• Open as Copy     To create a copy of the file as you open it, click Open as Copy. Changes you make to the file are made to the copy and not to the original.
• Open in Browser     To display the file in your Web browser, click Open in Browser.
• Open with Transform     When you are opening an Extensible Markup Language (XML) file and you need to apply an Extensible Stylesheet Language (XSL) Transformation file to the XML file, click Open with Transform and browse to the XSL file that you need.
• Open and Repair     If a file has been damaged and you cannot open it by normal means, click Open and Repair to open the damaged file.
• Cancel     To go back to the program without opening a file, click Cancel.

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